Ironwood Public Safety presents annual report

By ZACHARY MARANO

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Ironwood — The Ironwood Public Safety Department presented its annual report to the Ironwood City Commission at their regular meeting on Monday.

Department director Andrew DiGiorgio identified three partnerships between the public safety department and other organizations in the last year that stood out to him, with the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action and the Gogebic County office of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

The public safety department partnered with the WUPHD to offer free COVID-19 testing at the Memorial Building on Wednesdays. DiGiorgio said that the health department needed certified Emergency Medical Technicians to observe people for any signs of anaphylaxis or other allergic reactions after getting vaccinated and several public safety officers were certified through their EMT program.

DiGiorgio said that the public safety department also partnered with Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action to provide housing for people who need a roof over their heads. After 4 p.m., anyone can come to the public safety department and they will provide them a motel room for the evening. He said this program is funded by the American Red Cross.

Another partnership that DiGiorgio said he was particularly proud of was with the Gogebic County MDHHS. The two departments have been providing free drug and alcohol testing for people required to get tested as part of their sentencing at the public safety department office.

“Our thought process was that we didn’t want to (charge) people as they’re going through this difficult time with $25 for drug testing or $5 for a PBTs, or preliminary breath tests, so we waived the costs. It helps us work with the courts and get people back on their feet,” DiGiorgio said.

DiGiorgio said that the number of police reports shot up by 74% from last year, which he said he initially found alarming. However, he said there were unusually low case numbers in 2020 because of the stay home, stay safe order and these numbers were more in line with previous years.

Other statistics from the annual report included the officers delivering eight doses of Narcan and responded to two calls for hazmat services. DiGiorgio said that all public safety officers carry Narcan to treat drug overdoses in emergency situations and the department provides hazmat suits to Michigan’s Region 8, which encompasses the entire Upper Peninsula.

Public Safety Sgt. Matthew Sterbenz will provide the city commission with a full annual report on the Gogebic-Iron Area Narcotics Team at its next monthly meeting. DiGiorgio said that he will also have more details about their cooperation with the Ironwood Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee at the next meeting.

DiGiorgio said the department’s frontline firetruck, Engine 99, is now 23 years old and that after 25 years, a truck is no longer National Fire Protection Association compliant. He said that this year, he wants to start the process of obtaining a new truck for 2025. He also said that he hopes the department will complete the process for accreditation and become an accredited agency by 2023.

Public Safety Officer Michael Rimkus retired in June 2021, DiGiorgio said. He said they found a part-time officer to replace Rimkus, but staffing is going to be a challenge for the department going forward. He said that public safety officers have other responsibilities besides policing and many people only enroll in the police academy because they want to police. He said that they are going to reach out to community members to find new ways to attract officers.

After hearing DiGiorgio’s presentation, the board authorized a professional services agreement with McKenna for the preparation of a downtown development plan and the re-establishment of a tax increment financing district for downtown Ironwood.

Director of Community Development Tom Bergman asked the board to consider authorizing this agreement because this project is a priority for the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority, the Ironwood Economic Development Corporation and the planning commission. He said that the downtown development plan would identify projects that TIFT dollars can be used for.

“As part of another project, which is the development of a tax increment financing district for the downtown, you also have to have a downtown development plan, which was historically our blueprint plan. But that now needs to be updated and we’re looking to start the TIFT district, which is an opportunity for the city to capture tax revenue and then reinvest that in our downtown,” Bergman said.

Bergman said that McKenna will help with public outreach to identify the priorities for downtown Ironwood and how this will impact the community and tax revenues in the community. He said they expect the process to take six or seven months.

The city commission also:

—Approved a special assessment for 420 E. McLeod Ave. for condemnation and demolition of a hazardous stairwell. City Manager Scott Erickson that the property owner was contacted on numerous occasions to address the problem but did not take any action, so he public works department removed the stairwell. Erickson said that the cost was $1,595, including labor, equipment and disposal costs. He said the property owner will have the chance to pay the money up front before it is added to their taxes.

—Approved the six-year capital improvement plan for 2022-2028, as recommended by the Ironwood Planning Commission and Parks and Recreation Committee. Mayor Kim Corcoran said that the plan is available for review in the city clerk’s office or on the city of Ironwood’s website.

—Approved a quit claim deed to Eric Lytwyniuk for previously purchased property at Luxmore and Ayer streets.

—Authorized bids for a new tractor/mower for the department of public works and declared the current mower surplus, as well as a tractor/mower for the Western Gateway Trail Authority.

—Authorized bids for the replacement of a damaged metal siding on the northeast end of the department of public works facility.

—Awarded a bid to Jake’s Excavating for the Drinking Water Asset Management grant project in the amount of $401,350.

—Set a public hearing for 5:25 p.m. on March 28 to consider approving a special assessment for 110 East Birch St. for condemnation and demolition of a residential structure at this location.